Cases of whooping cough have increased dramatically in New York City this year, with new data revealing a staggering 169% surge compared to the same period last year and almost five times more cases than at this point in 2019. Experts believe that low vaccination rates among unvaccinated migrants pouring into the city could be driving the trend.
The rise in whooping cough cases is particularly alarming, as the potentially fatal illness can be deadly for infants and young children, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. The bacterium responsible for whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, spreads through infected individuals coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others.
Since mid-2022, over 200,000 migrants have passed through New York City, and currently around 63,900 are residing in city-run shelters, according to Mayor Eric Adams. These often cramped and poorly-ventilated environments create the perfect conditions for whooping cough to spread.
New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan warned last year that half of the migrants entering the city had not been vaccinated against polio and many were coming from or passing through countries with high rates of infectious tuberculosis, which can also be transmitted by respiratory droplets. Researchers have found that migrants’ native countries often have low immunization rates, and they often refuse or don’t have access to vaccines once they arrive in a new country.
To prevent further spread of whooping cough, it is crucial for children of all communities and immigration statuses to be vaccinated. However, the city’s Health Department does not track how many migrants coming into the city are unvaccinated. The best way to avoid pertussis is to follow appropriate vaccination guidelines, according to a state Department of Health spokesperson.
